"They're important races," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. "The president knows each one of them from his work and their work in the Senate and is anxious to go out and campaign for all three of them."

The Minnesota stop is for gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton.

The White House outlines Obama's schedule for the rest of the week:

On Wednesday ... the President will travel to Portland, Oregon to attend a fundraiser and a rally for Gubernatorial candidate John Kitzhaber. The President will then travel to Seattle, where he will spend the night.

On Thursday, the President will hold an event in Seattle, and will then attend a rally for Senator (Patty) Murray. Later, the President will travel to San Francisco, California. In the evening, the President will attend a dinner for the DNC. The President will spend the night in San Francisco.

On Friday, the President will travel to Los Angeles, California where he will attend events for Senator Barbara Boxer and for the DNC. Later, the President will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada where he will attend an event for the DNC and later an event for Senator Reid and the DSCC. The President will spend the night in Las Vegas.

On Saturday, the President will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to attend an event for Gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton, and will then attend an event for the DCCC. The President will return to Washington, DC in the evening.

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About David Jackson

David's journalism career spans three decades, including coverage of five presidential elections, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 2000 Florida presidential recount and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has covered the White House for USA TODAY since 2005. His interests include history, politics, books, movies and college football -- not necessarily in that order. More about David